The ''Clootie Well''

[canuck]

Just finished reading John Rankin's ''Naming of the dead'' in the book he refers to a ''Clootie Well'' albeit he says it is near Fortrose in the Black Isle. I remember as youngsters we used to cycle to the ''Clootie Well'' at Culloden where we hung rags from the trees, could this possibly be something that still happens? can anybody else share similar memories? I realize I'm going back a long time but Rankin has triggered an old (happy) mememory!

[Scotty]

All through his time at ICT, John Rankin gets called Ian Rankin by journalists who confuse him with the author ... the second he moves to Hibs, its the author who starts getting mistaken for the footballer  :015: :015: :015: :015:

[PullMyFinger]

The tradition is alive and well on a smaller scale.

Watch out for the Wicker Man over the bridge though.

[Scotty]

You are both right !! There are many "clootie" wells as it is a generic term ...

Munlochy: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/munl...well/index.html

Culloden: St Mary's Well - http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks/nescotland/214465

[Kingsmills]

My mother's family originally came from Culloden Moor, long before there was any sort of development there.

I recall as a child being taken to the Clootie Well there every first sunday in may known as "Clootie Well Day""

I don't know the origins but there seemed, to my young eyes at least, to be hundreds if not thousands, doing the same thing on the same day. The place was hoaching with many folk taking picnics and the like.

Everyone tied a rag "cloot" to a the branches of trees near to the well presumably to bring luck or ward off some kind of evil.

As I recall there was one particular tree in the area known "The Devil's Tree" where legend had it that if you ran round the trunk three times at midnight wilst naked Old Nick himself would apear.

[Scotty]

http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/hauntings/culloden.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clootie_well

[caley100]

Feb8th2000, are you there...are you there....      where's the ghostie expert when you need him eh?

Is the well in Culloden woods not also known as Queen Anns well ?  wonder why that is?

[PullMyFinger]

My mother's family originally came from Culloden Moor, long before there was any sort of development there.

I recall as a child being taken to the Clootie Well there every first sunday in may known as "Clootie Well Day""

I don't know the origins but there seemed, to my young eyes at least, to be hundreds if not thousands, doing the same thing on the same day. The place was hoaching with many folk taking picnics and the like.

Everyone tied a rag "cloot" to a the branches of trees near to the well presumably to bring luck or ward off some kind of evil.

As I recall there was one particular tree in the area known "The Devil's Tree" where legend had it that if you ran round the trunk three times at midnight wilst naked Old Nick himself would apear.

I was going to ask if it worked and then I remembered your occupation and answered my own question.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Seriously - My mother and my aunt were/are "spey witches" - we alwasy wrapped summat at the wells - and to be honest they were both uncanny.

And it is in the genes they say.  :023: